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Meeting counterfactual causality criteria is not the problem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2023

Kristian E. Markon Open the ORCID record for Kristian E. Markon [Opens in a new window]
Kristian E. Markon*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA kristian-markon@uiowa.edu
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Abstract

Counterfactual causal interpretations of family genetic effects are appropriate, but neglect an important feature: Provision of unique information about expected outcomes following an independent decision, such as a decision to intervene. Counterfactual causality criteria are unlikely to resolve controversies about behavioral genetic findings; such controversies are likely to continue until counterfactual inferences are translated into interventional hypotheses and designs.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 46 , 2023 , e195
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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